Valve



April 23, 1940. H. M. HlEsTER ET AL.

VALVE Filed Jan 7' 1957 2 Sheets-Shet l April 23, 1940. H. M. HIESTER ETA1.

VALVE Filed Jan. 7, 1957 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rant tips.

E) n @im im Dayton, litigio, assignors to -iilnited lircrait lrcducts,line., Dayton, iilihio, a corporaticn' oi @hic Apprentice .tammy v',isst, sensi ne. hasta d Claims.

This invention pertains to fluid control valves and comprises a leakproof multi-way valve of the rotary plug type which although especiallydesigned for airplane use, is 'likewise readily applicable to many otherpurposes.

It is highly important that fuel line valves of airplanes be leak proofin order that 'fire hazards be reduced to minimum, and equally importantthat the seating surfaces be non-corrosive and capable oi' sealing underlight pressure, thereby avoiding any tendency to vsticlr and resistadjust ment, and preventing damage and excessive Wear of the engagingsurfaces.

In the present construction there is contemplated a rotary valve bodyhaving an axial intake opening in constant communication with a supplyconduit communicating with the valve housing and a lateral outlet portto be registered With any one oi a series of discharge conduitscommunicating with the valve housing. The rotary valve body may beeither cylindrical or tapered and peripherally engages, undercompression, bodies of yielding packing material disposed thereabout inboth peripherally and longitudinal crcumferentially spaced relation.Spring tensioned indexing means serves to retain the valve body ineither of. its several positions oi adjust mentwith the outlet port ofthe revoluble valve body in registry with a selected discharge conduit.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction, as well asthe means and mode of operation, oi. fluid control valves whereby theymay not only be economically manufactured, but will be more efficient inuse, oi leal: tight construction capable of being easily adjusted, oi.increased durability and unlikely to get out of repair. i

A further object of the invention is to provide improved sealing meansfor such valves whereby leakage will be prevented, Without creatingundue resistance to adjustment. y

A further object of the invention is to locate packing material mostadvantageously about the rotary valve body and in such relation as toprevent bypassing either irom the supply conduit to either of thedischarge conduits or from one of the latter to another.

A further object oi the invention is to provide indexing means foryieldingly retaining the valve in any one of its several positions ofadjustment.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improvednon-corrodible valve seating construction. l y

.A further object oi the invention is to provide (0l. 25h-ddii)effective sealing oi the Valve under relatively light pressure.

A further object o theinvention is to provide a rotary valveconstruction embodying the advantageous features of constructionandmeritorious s characteristics herein mentioned.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in View, as willmore fully appear in the specication, the invention consists of theifeatures of construction, the parts and combinations l0 thereof, andthe mode oi operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter descritfed`Vand set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings wherein is shown v the preferred but notnecessarily the only form i of embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective exterior View cf the valve.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional viev'v on line tl-t of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View on line 2g ii-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail end View with one of the housing heads removed.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the removed head and associated parte.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the valve showing thecooperation between the rotor plug and the packing.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the plate member forming part oi thevalve indexing mechanism'. 30

Lilie parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, l is an annular valve housinghaving a central` chamber for a rotary plug element and in itsperipheral Wall a series of outlet openings 2 within radially disposedspaced bosses i--t for cornicetion of discharge conduits. The interiorchamber of the housing may be either cylindrical or tapered. The housingi preferably consists of o aluminum or a metallic alloy of non-corrosivecharacter, but may be of synthetic resinous or phenolic condensationmaterial.

Secured to one end of the housing is a head t having therein a iiuidinlet opening il within a 4r connecting boss t for a supply conduit.Engaged with the opposite end oi the housing is a second head i havingtherein an interior recess or spring chamber 8 and an opening forextension of the valve stem hy which the rotor plug element is adjusted.The housing i and respective heads il and 'i are raoheted at Si toinsure leak tight jroints. The interior surface of the chamber withinthe housing is longitudinally grooved on circumierentially spaced linesto receive strips of conipressible packing material it, The severalpacking material grooves and inset strips are disposed at opposite sidesand intermediate the outlet openings 2. Coincident with the anglesformed by the intersection of the inner wall of the housing chamber andthe respective heads l 'and 'i Aare interiorly beveled packing rings ilof compressible material. One of these rings is seated ina groove l2 inthe head i The other ring is seated upon a flanged or rabbeted collar i3interiorly of the opposite head i.

Mounted for rotary motion Within the housing chamber is a hollowcup-shaped rotor plugr le, the open end of which communicates with theinlet opening 5 of the head 5. The cup-shaped rotor plug is providedwith a lateral port i5 which may be brought into registry with any oneof the several lateral discharge outlets 2 by rotation of the plug iii,which is provided with a valve stem it extending from the closed endthereof through the springrecess t in the head l and thence exterioriythereof.

` The rotary plug element llt is beveled :at il at each end to formthereon seats for the packing rings li, the interior bevels of whichconform thereto. The ends of the longitudinal packing strips itl abutupon the packing rings il to insure leak tight contact throughout.

Surrounding the valve stem i@ and secured to the rotor plug it forunison rotation by pins ill is a disc i9 having therein spaced radialgrooves 205, Fig. 4, the disposition of which corresponds with therelative location of the outlet ports 2. Surrounding the valve stein itimmediately adjacent to the radially grooved disc lil is a second disc2l which may be stamped from sheet material having on its contiguousface a series oi radial beveled ribs 22 spaced in accordance with thegrooves 2li and releasably engageable therein to yieldingly hold therotor plug iii in any one of several positions oi rotary adjustment.

I This ribbed disc 2i is :free to move axially relative to the disc i9and rotor plug ii, but is held i against rotary motion by a stud 2liprojecting from the head l through a hole in the disc.

Enclosed within the chamber. oi' the head l and surrounding the volvostein it is c. helical spring gli under compression. The spring 2dduo-functionally urges the 'floating disc El toward the grooved disc i9and the roto-r plug axially against the packing ring il seated on thehead li. Tl'ie spring pressure serves to maintain the interengagement ofthe ribs 22 in the grooves 2li from which they are disengageable againstthe yielding resistance of the spring il@ by the camining action of thebeveled ribs 22. By rotation of the valve stein it the rotor plug it isadjusted within the housing to bring its lateral port into register withany one of the outlet ports i2 thereby connecting the inlet opening iiwith any selected discharge port, which adjustment is maintained by theinter-engagement of theribs 22 in the grooves 2e underinluence of thespring lf until dislodged by further rotary adjustment,

In event that the packing strips it Wear, or lack sufficient elasticity,fiat springs 25 may be inserted in the seat grooves beneath the stripsit, Fig. 6.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures oi advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from thearcanes principle involved or sacrlcing any ci its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specinc as to structural features, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the inventioninto effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its formsor modifications Within the legitimate and valid scope oi the appendedclaims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

l. A. multi-Way valve including a housing havu ing a central chamber anda series of uid outlet openings in its peripheral wall, a rotary plugelement Within the central chamber, a head secured to one end of thehousing and having therein a fluid inlet opening, a hollow cup-shapedrotor plug within the housing cl'iarnber,l the plug having an open endwhich communicates with the inlet opening in the head secured to the endof the housing and a lateral port which may be brought into registrywith any one of the outlets in the peripheral wall of the housing byrotation of the rotor plug, a stem on the rotor plug for rotaryadjustment thereof, a head secured to the end of the housing oppositethat end thereof to which the iirst named head is secured and havingtherein a spring chamber andan opening through which the rotor plug stemextends, the housing and the heads being rabbeted to insure leak-tightjoints, circumierentially spaced longitudinal grooves on the surface ofthe chamber Within the housing for receiving strips or compressiblepacking material, the grooves being disposedl intermediate the outletopenings in the housing, an interiorly beveled packing ring ofcompressible material coincident with the angle formed at theintersection oi the first mentioned head and the inner wail of thehousing chamber and seated in a groove in the head, another packing ringci compressiblc material coincident with the angle formed by theintersection ci the other head and the inner wall ci the housing chamberand seated upon a rabbcted collar interiorly ci such head, the packingrings abutting the ends oi the strips oi compressible packing materialwithin the clrcumierentially spaced longitudinally disposed grooves inthe surface of the housing chamber, a disc surrounding the valve sternand secured thereto for unison rotation, the disc having therein spacedradial vgrooves the disposition of which corresponds to the relativelocation of the outlet openings in the peripheral wall or" the housing,a second disc surrounding the valve stem immediately adjacent the rs'tnamed disc, such second disc being axially movable but nonrotatable andhaving on its contiguous :tace a' series of radialribs spaced inaccordance With-the radial grooves in lthe rst named disc and releasablyengageable therewith by axial movement of the secind disc to yieldinglyhold the rotor plug in any one `oi' several positions of rotaryadjustment, and a spring in the spring chamber and surrounding the valvestern, said spring being duofunctionally effective to urge thenon-rotatn able disc toward the rotatable disc secured to the rotor plugstem and to urge the rotor plug axially against the packing ringadjacent the opposit head secured to the housing.

2. A multi-Way valve including a housing having a central chamber and aseries ci fluid outlet openings in its peripheral wall, a rotary plugitil .titi

escasas iii element within the central chamber, a head secured to oneend of the housing and having therein a fluid inlet opening, a hollowrotor plusr within the housing chamber, the plug having an open endwhich communicates vwith the inlet opening in the head securedto the endof the housing and a lateral port which may be brought into registrywith any one of the. outlets in the peripheral wall of the housing byrotation of the rotor plug, a stern on the rotor plug for rotaryadjustment thereof, a head secured to the end of the housing oppositethat end thereof to which the first named head. is secured and havingtherein a spring chamber and an opening through which the rotor plugstem extends, circumferentially spaced longitudinalgrooves on thesurface of the chamber within the housing for receiving strips ofcompressible packing material, the grooves being disposed intermediatethe outlet openings in the housing, an interiorly beveled packing ringof compressible material coincident with the angle formed at theintersection of the first mentioned head and the inner Wall of thehousing chamber and seated in a groove in the head, another packing ringof compressible material coincident Withthe angle formed hy the intersection of the other head and theinner wall of the housing chamber andseated upon a rahbeted `collar interiorly of such head, the packingrings abutting the ends ofl the strips of compressible packing materialWithin the circumferentially spaced longitudinally disposed grooves inthe surface of the housing chamber, a disc surrounding the valve stemand secured thereto for unison rotation, the disc having therein spacedradial grooves the disposition of 4which corresponds to the relativelocation of the outlet openings in the peripheral wall oi the housing,`a second disc sur rounding the valve stern immediately adjacent the`first named disc, such second discA being axially movable butnon-rotatable and having on its contiguous face a series oi radial ribsspaced in accordance with the radial grooves in the iirst named disc andreleasably engageable therewith by axial movement oi the second disc toyieldingly hold the rotor plug in any one oi several positions of rotaryadjustment, and a spring in the' spring chamber and surrounding thevalve stern, said spring being duoiunctionally eiiective to urge thenon-rotatable disc toward the rotatable disc secured to the rotor plugstemV andto urge the rotor p lug axially against the packing ringadjacent the opposite headsecured to the housing.

3. A multi-way valve including'a housing having a central chamber andaseries of iluid outlet openings in its peripheral wall, a rotaryl plugelement within the central chamber, av head se cured to one end of thehousing and having therein a iluid inlet opening, a hollow rotor plugwithin the housing chamber, the plug having an open end whichcommunicates with the 'inlet opening in the head secured to the end ofthe housing and a lateral port which may be brought into registry withany one of the outlets in the peripheral wall of the housing by rotationof the rotor plug, a stem on the rotor plug for rotary adjustmentthereof,v a 'head secured to the end of the housing opposite that endthereof to which the iirst named head is secured and having therein aspring chamber and an opening through which the rotor plug stem extends,circumferentially spaced longitudinal grooves on the surface if thechamber within the housing for receiving strips of compressible lpackingmaterial, .the grooves beingdisposed' intermediate the outlet openingsthe housing, a packing ring o' coinpressible material coincident withthe angle formed at the intersection oi the rst mentioned head and theinner Wall oi the housing chamberv and seated in a groove in the head,another packing ring of compressible material coincident with the angleformed by the intersection of the other nally disposed grooves in thesurface of the housing chamber, a disc surrounding the valve stem andsecured thereto' for unison rotation,y the disc having therein spacedradial grooves the clisposition o which corresponds to the relativelocation of the outlet openings in the peripheral Wall of the housing, asecond disc surrounding the valve stern immediately adjacent the iirstnamed disc, such second disc being axially movable but non-rotatable andhaving on its contiguous face a series of radial ribs spaced inaccordance with the radial grooves in the nrs-t named disc andreleasably engageahle therewith 'oy axial Inovernent of the second discto yieldingly hold the rotor plugin any one of several positions ofrotary adjustment, and a spring the spring chamber and surrounding thevalve stern, said spring being duofunctionally effective to urge thenon-rotat, able disc toward the rotatable disc secured to the rotor plugstein and to urge the rotor plug axially yagainst the packing ringadjacent the opposite head secured 'to the housing.

4. i multi-Way valve including a housing having a central chamber and aseries of uid outlet' openings in its peripheral Wall, a rotaryv plugelement within the central chamber, a head secured to one end ofthehousing and having therein'a fluid inlet opening, a hollow rotor plugWithin the housing chamber, the plug having an open end whichcommunicates with the inlet opening in the headV secured to the end ofthe housing and a lateral port which may be brought into registry udthany one oi the outlets in the peripheral Wall of the housing by rotationoi the rotor plug, a stem on the rotor plug for rotary adjustmentthereof, a head secured to the end of the housing opposite that endthereof to which the iirst named head is Y secured and having therein aspring chamber and an opening through which the rotor plug sternextends, circumferentially spaced longitudinal grooves on the lsurfaceof the chamber within the housing for receiving strips oi compressiblepacking material, the grooves being disposed intermediate the outletopenings in the housing, a paclting ring ci compressihle materialcoincident with the angle formed at the intersection oi the rstmentioned head and the inner wall of the housing chamber, anotherpacking ring of conipressible material coincident with the angleiormed'by the inter'-` section of the other head and the inner Wall ofthe housing chamber, the packing rings abutting the ends of the stripsoi compres'sible packing material Within the circurnicrentially 'spacedlorigitudinally disposed groovesl inthe surface of the housing,clfiainhergA a disc surrounding the valve stein and secured theretoforunison rotation, the disc having therein spaced radialgrooves thedisposition oi' which corresponds to the relative location oi the outletopenings in the peripheral `Wall oi the housing, a second disc surrounding the valve stern immediately adjacent the first named disc, suchsecond disc beingv lli ingly hold the' rotoxyplug in'any one of severalpositions of rotary adjustment. anda spring in thespring chamber andsurrounding the valve stem, said spring' being duofunctionally eiectivel to urge the non-rotatable disc toward the rotatable disc secured tothe rotor plug stem `and to urge the rotor plug axially against thepacking `ring adjacent the opposite head secred to the l.

housing. 1

BARCHE.`

